Blackberry plant variety named ‘DrisBlackTwenty’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackTwenty’, particularly characterized by its plant vigor, yield, fruit shelf-life, and flavor, is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.

Varietal denomination:

The varietal denomination of the claimed variety of blackberry plant is‘DrisBlackTwenty’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blackberry is the common name for a multitude of plant species bearingdark purple to black aggregate fruit in the genus Rubus of the familyRosaceae. Most blackberries are within the subgenus Rubus.

Native chiefly to the northern temperate regions, blackberries are nowbeing cultivated as a valuable fruit crop in many areas of the world,particularly in Europe, North America and Central America. Recognizedfor their high contents of antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamin C, andvitamin K. Blackberry fruit are typically consumed as fresh fruit,individually quick frozen fruit, or in prepared foods, such as purées,juices, jellies, jams, grocery items, baked goods, and snack foods.

Globally, Mexico is the leading producer of blackberries, with nearlythe entire crop being produced for export into the off-season freshmarkets in North America and Europe. The Mexican market is almostentirely from the cultivar ‘Tupi’ (also spelled as ‘Tupy’). In theUnited States, Oregon is the leading commercial blackberry producer,followed by the state of California.

Blackberries are perennial plants that typically bear biennial stems(known as “canes”) from a perennial root system. The two cane types areprimocanes, or first-year canes, which are usually vegetative, andfloricanes, which are the same canes and produce fruit in the nextgrowing season. In its first year, a new cane, the primocane, growsvigorously to its full length of three to six meters in a growth habitof erecting, arching, or trailing along the ground and bearing largecompound leaves with 3, 5, or 7 leaflets; it does not produce anyflowers. In its second year, the cane becomes a floricane and stopselongating, but the lateral buds break to produce flowering lateralsthat bear fruit.

Recently, primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have been developed bythe University of Arkansas capable of flowering and fruiting onfirst-year canes. Primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have severaladvantages, including potential of two crops on the same plant in thesame year, reduction in pruning costs by mowing of canes, avoidance ofwinter injury, and production of fruit in an extended geographic area.However, primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties are also subject to anumber of challenges, such as poor heat tolerance, lesser fruit quality,and low yield.

Blackberry is an important and valuable commercial fruit crop.Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of blackberry plant. Inparticular, there is a need for improved varieties of blackberry plantthat are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of blackberry plant. In particular, the inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant (Rubus L.subgenus Rubus), which has been denominated as ‘DrisBlackTwenty’.

Blackberry plant variety ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ was selected in Los Reyes,Mexico in March of 2011 and originated from a cross between theproprietary female parent blackberry plant ‘BN843.2’ (unpatented) andthe proprietary male parent blackberry plant ‘BL481.3’ (unpatented). Theoriginal seedling of the new variety was first asexually propagated viaroot cuttings in Los Reyes, Mexico in March of 2011.

‘DrisBlackTwenty’ was subsequently asexually propagated via rootcuttings, and underwent testing at a test plot in Los Reyes, Mexico from2012 to 2018 for 6 years. The present variety has been found to bestable and reproduce true to type through successive asexualpropagations via root cuttings.

‘DrisBlackTwenty’ exhibits the following distinguishing characteristicsover other similar varieties when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Los Reyes, Mexico:

-   -   1. Upright to semi-upright plant growth habit;    -   2. No spines on dormant cane; and    -   3. Absent or few glandular hairs on young shoot.

‘DrisBlackTwenty’ was selected for its plant vigor, yield, fruitshelf-life, and flavor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs, which show fruit of the plant, flowers, a leaf, a cane, anda plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants thatare three years old.

FIG. 1 illustrates typical fruit of variety ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ at variousstages of development.

FIG. 2 illustrates typical flowers of variety ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ atvarious stages of development.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical leaf of variety ‘DrisBlackTwenty’.

FIG. 4 illustrates a typical cane of variety ‘DrisBlackTwenty’.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plant of variety ‘DrisBlackTwenty’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of‘DrisBlackTwenty’. The data that define these characteristics are basedon observations taken in Los Reyes, Mexico from 2012 to 2018. Thisdescription is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations,color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate fromthe stated values and descriptions depending upon variation inenvironmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.‘DrisBlackTwenty’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ was takenfrom plants that were three years old. The indicated values representaverages calculated from measurements of several plants. Colorreferences are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptiveterminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An IllustratedGlossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris,unless where otherwise defined.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.        -   Common name.—Blackberry.        -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlackTwenty’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—“BN843.2’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘BL481.3’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation.—Root cuttings.        -   Growth habit.—Upright to semi-upright.        -   Plant height.—170 cm.        -   Plant width.—100 cm.-   Canes:    -   -   Fruiting lateral length (4^(th) lateral from tip).—53.4 cm.        -   Number of fruits per fruiting lateral.—11.4.        -   Internodal distance.—4.8 cm.        -   Dormant cane.—Anthocyanin coloration: Absent or very weak.            Predominant distribution of branches: Only on upper half.            Cross-section: Rounded to angular. Presence of spines:            Absent.-   Young shoots:    -   -   Anthocyanin coloration (during rapid growth).—Absent or very            weak.        -   Intensity of green color.—RHS 143C (Strong yellow green).        -   Young shoot length.—56 cm.        -   Young shoot diameter.—0.743 cm.        -   Young shoot texture.—Medium rough.-   Leaves:    -   -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 77.44 mm. Width: 57.28 mm.            Length/width ratio: 1.35. Lobing: Absent. Shape in            cross-section: V-shaped. Undulation of margin: Weak.        -   Lateral leaflets (basal pair).—Length: 57.53 mm. Width:            41.99 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.37.        -   Rachis length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral            leaflets.—25.54 mm.        -   Petiole.—Length: 59.63 mm. Diameter: 1.46 mm. Petiole color:            RHS 144A (Strong yellow-green).        -   Leaflet.—Type of incision of margin: Bi-serrate. Leaflet            shape: Ovate. Leaflet texture: Soft medium. Leaflet color of            lower side: RHS 146A (Moderate olive green).        -   Leaf.—Predominant number of leaflets: 5. Type: Palmate.            Intensity of green color of upper side: RHS 139A (Dark            green). Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Leaf venation pattern:            Dichotomous. Leaf vein color: RHS 144A (Strong            yellow-green). Approximate date of leaf bud burst:            January-April.        -   Stipule.—Stipule length: 0.692 cm. Stipule width: 0.09 cm.            Stipule texture: Medium hairy. Stipule color: RHS 138B            (Moderate yellow-green).-   Flowers:    -   -   Diameter.—45.60 mm.        -   Petal.—Length: 24.20 mm. Width: 15.34 mm. Length/width            ratio: 1.57. Color: RHS 155C (Greenish white) for both upper            and lower sides of the petal. Number of petals per            flower: 5. Petal texture: Soft medium. Shape of apex:            Rounded. Shape of base: Cuneate. Petal margin: Retuse.        -   Number of flowers observed at 3^(rd) node from tip of            lateral.—2.4.        -   Number of flowers per panicle.—9.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 48.60 mm. Diameter: 1.24 mm. Pedicel color:            RHS 137B (Moderate olive green).        -   Sepal.—Sepal length: 0.733 cm. Sepal width: 0.124 cm. Sepal            texture: Soft medium. Sepal color: RHS 138A (Moderate            yellowish green).        -   Stigma.—Stigma length: 0.00349 mm. Stigma width: 0.00328 mm.            Stigma shape: Capitate. Stigma color: RHS 144B (Strong            yellow-green).        -   Style.—Style length: 3.31 mm. Style width: 0.015 mm. Style            shape: Elongate. Style color: RHS 145B (Light yellow-green).        -   Ovary.—Ovary length: 0.12 mm. Ovary width: 0.045 mm. Ovary            shape: Capitate. Ovary color: RHS 134B (Strong yellowish            green).        -   Stamen.—Stamen length: 5.8 mm. Stamen width: 0.25 mm. Stamen            shape: Tetradynamous. Stamen color: RHS 155B (Yellowish            white).        -   Anther.—Anther length: 1.33 mm. Anther width: 0.99 mm.            Anther shape: Elongate. Anther color: RHS 155B (Yellowish            white).        -   Pollen.—Pollen diameter: 0.00025 mm. Pollen shape: Oblate            spheroidal. Pollen color: RHS 8B (Light greenish yellow).        -   Peduncle.—Peduncle diameter: 0.85 mm. Peduncle color: RHS            138A (Moderate yellow-green).        -   Flower bud.—Bud length: 6.91 mm. Bud width: 5.65 mm. Bud            shape: Oblong. Bud color: RHS 144C (Strong yellow-green).        -   Time of beginning of flowering.—August-September.        -   Duration of flowering.—45 days.-   Fruit:    -   -   Length of mature fruit.—33.36 mm.        -   Diameter of mature fruit.—26.09 mm.        -   Ratio of fruit length to width.—1.3.        -   Average number of drupelets per fruit.—109.        -   Drupelet diameter.—2.24 mm.        -   Fruit weight.—9.2 g/fruit.        -   Soluble solids (in brix).—16.2%.        -   Titratable acidity (as citric acid).—0.93%.        -   Seed weight.—0.006 g/seed.        -   Seed diameter.—2.03 mm.        -   Seed shape.—Elliptic.        -   Seed color.—RHS 146B (Light yellow-green).        -   Shape of fruit in longitudinal section.—Medium ovate.        -   Immature fruit color.—RHS 146A (Green).        -   Maturing fruit color.—RHS 185A (Purple).        -   Mature fruit color.—RHS 202A (Black).        -   Fruiting on current year's cane.—Absent.        -   Harvest interval on previous year's cane.—October-June.        -   Yield.—18,000 kg/hectare to 22,500 kg/hectare of fruit per            season from 9-month-old plants when grown in Los Reyes,            Michoacan, Mexico.        -   Date of first fruit pick.—September 24.        -   Date of last fruit pick.—December 31.        -   Market use of fruit.—Fresh market.        -   Shipping and storage characteristics.—Following harvest,            fruit can be stored for 10 days if maintained under cooled            temperatures (e.g. at 2° Celsius) that are standard for            blackberry storage.-   Resistance to diseases, pests, and abiotic stress:    -   -   Spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii).—Moderately            susceptible.        -   Powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis).—Moderately            susceptible.        -   Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum).—Resistant.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLACKBERRY VARIETIES

‘DrisBlackTwenty’ differs from the proprietary female parent ‘BN843.2’(unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ has higher vigor compared to‘BN843.2’. Moreover, ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ differs from the proprietaryfemale parent ‘BN843.2’ in that ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ is spineless, whereas‘BN843.2’ is spiny.

‘DrisBlackTwenty’ differs from the proprietary male parent ‘BL481.3’(unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ has higher yield potential than‘BL481.3’.

‘DrisBlackTwenty’ differs from commercial variety ‘Tupy’ (also spelled‘Tupi’, unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ has no spines on dormantcane, absent or few number of glandular hairs on young shoot, a V shapeof terminal leaflet in cross-section, and a medium ovate fruit shape inlongitudinal section. In contrast, ‘Tupy’ has spines present on dormantcane, medium number of glandular hairs on young shoot, a U shape ofterminal leaflet in cross-section, and a circular to medium ovate fruitshape in longitudinal section.

‘DrisBlackTwenty’ differs from commercial variety ‘DrisBlackSeventeen’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,291) in that ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ has an upright tosemi-upright plant growth habit, no spines on dormant cane, absent orfew number of glandular hairs on young shoot, and early beginning offruit ripening on previous year's cane. In contrast,‘DrisBlackSeventeen’ has a semi-upright plant growth habit, spinespresent on dormant cane, many glandular hairs on young shoot, and mediumbeginning of fruit ripening on previous year's cane.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plantdesignated ‘DrisBlackTwenty’ as shown and described herein.